Material dislodging device



M. P. HOLMES MATERIAL DISLODGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 50, 1935 [Hb/masi Adil' ml um.

Huwus Nov. 24, 1936.

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Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED MATERIAL EDISLODGING DEVICE Morris i. Holmes, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,676

22 Claims.

Y This invention relates to devices for mining coal or other minerals, and more particularly to devices for dislodging coal or other minerals by means of mechanical pressure, thereby to eliminate the necessity of blasting and the dangers attendant upon the use of explosives.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved device for dislodging coal or other minerals without the necessity of blasting and without the use of explosives. Another object is to provide an improved device operated by mechanical pressure for dislodging coal or other minerals. A 4further object is to provide an improved expansible mechanical device insertible in a recess in the coal and operated by mechanical means from an outside source whereby the coal or other minerals is dislodged in an improved manner. Still another object is to provide an improved expansible mechanical dislodging device in the form of a screw jack mechanism and embodying an expansible housing for the screw jack mechanism. These and other objects. and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the following description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In this` drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the illustrative embodiment of one form of the improved dislodging device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the parts in their collapsed position.

Fig.v 3 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in an expanded position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar toFig. 2 showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved dislodging device in its operative position at the coal face.

, The coal or other mineral to be dislodged is, if desired, undercut at l by means of any suitable form of coal cutting device to permit the material above to be broken down or dislodged with greater facility and is topcut at 2 to relieve the material to be broken down at the roof. This topcut is formed at the top of the mass to be broken away or dislodged and is of such size and shape to receive the improved dislodging mechanism, generally designated 3, so that the latter will lit into it snugly when the parts thereof are in their innermost contracted or collapsed position, in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Instead of forming a topout at the top of the mass to be broken away, holes or recesses may be formed at intervals across the mine face to receive the dislodging mechanism; and, if desired, a plurality of dislodging mechnisms may be employed which will act simultaneously to eiect dislodging of the material.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the improved dislodging mechanism 3 is in the form of a screw jack mechanism and comprises an outer rotatable drum or p-ulley I having wound thereon a cable 5 and surrounding the body of the expanding device. Formed on the central web E oi the drum are oppositely projecting, alined pressure screw elements 'I and 8 having oppositely inclined threads and threadedly engaging nut portions 9 and it, respectively, formed on the oppositely movable expanding members, herein pressure plates II and I2. These pressure plates are in the form of housing elements and have inwardly directed anged portions I3 carrying packing rings I4 for preventing leakage of lubricant and the entry of dirt or other foreign substances into the internal expanding mechanism, these packing elements contacting in sealing engagement with the inner periphery of the rotatable drum. `Formed on these pressure plates are lugs I5 having pivotally connected thereto at I6 guiding and holding arms II and I8, these arms being pivotally connected at I9 to a guide element through which the free end of the cable 5 extends, as shown in Fig. 1. These guide arms guide the cable relative to the drum and also prevent rotative movement of the pressure plates. during operation of the dislodging device by engagement thereof with the cable 5, as will later be described. These pressure plates are provided with radial tooth-like projections 2l for gripping the material acted upon thereby and to also cooperate in the holding of the pressure plates against rotative movement during expansion thereof. The outer ends of the threaded openings of the nut elements are closed by plates 22 secured to the pressure plates flush with the outer faces of the latter.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the structure is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 2, with the exception that the alined pressure screws 23 and 24 are secured, as by welding at 25, to the pressure plates 26 and 2l, and the nut 28 cooperating with the pressure screws is formed on the central web 29 of the drum 30. Otherwise this form of the invention is identical with that above described.

The mode of operation of the improved dislodging mechanism will be clearly apparent by the description given. The dislodging mechanism is inserted in the topcut 2 or other suitable recess above the mass oi material to be dislodged, and the operating cable 5 of the dislodging mechanism is extended outwardly from the mine face to a suitable haulage device or to the rope feeding mechanism of a coal cutting machine. When the parts are thus disposed, the cable 5 is drawn in, thereby eifecting rotative movement of the drum l, and as a result, the pressure screws 'l and 8 are rotated to eiect expansible movement of the pressure plates outwardly relative to each other, thereby to apply a terrific pressure to the mass of coal or other material below the dislodging device. rIhe pressure transmitted to the pressure plates is continued until the mass of material below the dislodging mechanism is detached or dislodged and falls down. As the tension is initially applied to the cable 5 and the pressure plates start to move toward their expanded position, the guide arms Il and guide member 29 engage the then taut cable to prevent rotative movement of the pressure plates, and as soon as the pressure plates grip the coal the radial teeth 2i also cooperate in holding the pressure plates against rotative movement. The operation of the modication shown in Fig. 4 is the same as that above described, with the exception that the nut 28 is rotated and the pressure screws 23, 2li are moved axially outwardly relative to each other to eiect movement of the pressure plates 26, 2l into their expanded position. In both forms of the invention, as the pressure plates move outwardly, the guide arms il, i8 swing about their pivotal connections I6 with the pressure plates in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved means is provided for dislodging coal or other minerals from their native beds solely by means of mechanical pressure, thereby eliminating the necessity of blasting and the dangers attendant upon the use of powerful explosives. It will further be noted that an improved dislodging device is provided whereby the coal or other minerals is broken down solely by mechanical pressure derived from an outside source. It will still further be noted that an improved dislodging device is provided which is or an extremely compact and rugged nature readily adapted to the severe demands of service encountered in the mining of coal or similar minerals.

While there is in this application speciiically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dislodging device comprising a dat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable, relatively wide, nat pressure plates having inwardly directed iianges, and mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates and including a rotatable member cooperating with said plate flanges and a separate expanding device between said rotatable member .and each plate. Y

2. A dislodging device comprising a flat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable, relatively wide, flat pressure plates having inwardly directed flanges, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, and a power operated mechanism for actuating said expanding means and including a rotatable member cooperating with said plate flanges to form a complete closure for said expanding means in any expanded position of said plates.

3. A dislodging device comprising a ilat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable, relatively wide, flat pressure plates, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, and a power operated mechanism for actuating said expanding means and including an actuating element coaxial with and surrounding said expanding means and cooperating with said plates to form a complete housing for said expanding means in any expanded position of said plates.

4. A dislodging device comprising a pair of oppositely movable pressure plates and mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, said pressure plates having inwardly directed ilanges, and operating mechanism for said expanding means including an operating member cooperating with said pressure plates to form a complete housing for said expanding means irrespective of the expanded position of said plates.

5. A dislodging device comprising a flat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositelx.7 movable coaxial circular pressure plates having relatively wide, flat material-engaging surfaces, and mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates including separate, simultaneously operable expanding devices and a cable drum arranged coaxially with and surrounding said expanding devices, said expanding devices being arranged between said drum and said plates respectively.

6. A dislodging device comprising a pair of oppositely movable pressure plates, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates including expanding devices and operating means therefor including a cable drum arranged coaxially with and surrounding said expanding devices, and guide arms secured to said pressure plates and having a guiding element for engaging the cable wound on said drum.

'7. A dislodging device comprising a pair of oppositely movable pressure plates, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, power operated means for actuating said expanding means, and guide arms secured to said pressure plates and having a guide element for engaging an element of said actuating means.

8. A dislodging device comprising a pair of oppositely movable pressure plates, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, power operated means for actuating said expanding means, and guide arms secured to said pressure plates and having a guide element for engaging an element of said actuating means, said guide arms also forming holding means for holding the pressure plates against rotative movement.

9. A dislodging device comprising at, hollow,

expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable coaxial circular pressure members having relatively wide, ilat material-engaging surfaces and arrangedin closely adjacent parallel relation, a centrally located guide body for said members, and mechanical expanding means associated with said guide body and interposed between said members, said expanding means operated by power through a source extraneous of said dislodging device.

'10. A dislodging device comprising flat, hollo-W, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable pressure members having relatively wide, flat material-engaging surfaces and arranged in closely adjacent parallel relation, said dislodging device, when said members are in expanded position, being substantially greater in width than in thickness, and mechanical expanding means interposed in the relatively narrow space between and housed within said members and operable to expand said members.

l1. A dislodging device comprising flat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including a pair of oppositely movable pressure members having relatively wide, iiat material-engaging surfaces, and mechanical expanding means interposed between said members having actuating means coaxial with and surrounding said expanding means, an element of said actuating means cooperating with said pressure members to form a complete housing for said expanding means irrespective of the expanded position of said pressure members.

12. A dislodging device comprising a pair of oppositely movable, coaxial circular pressure members, and mechanical expanding means interposed between said members including actuating means coaxial with and surrounding said expanding means, said pressure members having means cooperating with said actuating means for forming a complete housing for said expanding means in any expanded position of said circular members.

13. An expansible breaker adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be broken comprising an intermediate relatively narrow frame adapted to be inserted in a plane kerf in a mine wall, a relatively shallow plunger tting in one side oi said frame and mo-vable relatively thereto transversely thereof, an additional relatively shallow plunger tting in the opposite side of said frame and movable relatively thereto transversely thereof, and means comprising a screw and nut mechanism in position on said frame to o-perate said plungers by spreading the same apart relatively to said frame to exert pressure on the opposite walls of said plane kerf.

14. A material-breaking device comprising a flat, hollow, expansible material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be broken and including oppositely movable, ilat plates, said plates when in their collapsed position having a 'narrow opening therebetween, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates, and operating means for said expanding means including an operating member projecting outwardly through the narrow space between said plates, said operating member cooperating with said plates to form a complete housing for said expanding means in any expanded position of said plates.

15. A material-breaking mechanism comprising a relatively flat, hollow, expansible breaking device including oppositely directed, relatively wide, flat pressure members of circular cup shape providing inwardly directed annular iianges, mechanical expanding mechanism interposed in the narrow space between said pressure members, and operating means for said expanding mechanism including a rotatable drum member interposed between said pressure members in coaxial relation therewith and a cable engaging said drum for rotating the latter, said drum surrounding the anges of said cup-shaped members in any position of the latter with respect thereto.

i6. A material-breaking mechanism comprising a relatively flat hollow, expansible breaking device including oppositely directed, relatively wide, flat pressure members of circular cup shape providing inwardly directed annular iianges, mechanical expanding mechanism interposed in the narrow space between said pressure members, and operating means for said expanding mechanism including a rotatable drum member having a portion interposed between said pressure members in coaxial relation therewith and further having oppositely directed annular flanges cooperating with the flanges on said pressure members to provide a housing for said expanding mechanism.

i7. A dislodging device comprising a relatively flat, hollow, expansible material-dislodging means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be dislodged and including oppositely movable, relatively wide, iiat, circular pressure plates arranged in coaxial relation, mechanical expanding means interposed between said plates in the narrow space therebetween portions or said expanding means telescoping within portions of said plates when the latter are in collapsed position, and means for operating said expanding means including a cable drum a1'- ranged coaxially with and surrounding said eX- panding means and a cable cooperating with said drum for rotating the latter.

18. A material-breaking device comprising a normally flat, hollow, material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to b-e broken and including oppositely expansible members having walls presenting relatively wide, flat material-engaging surfaces and arranged in closely adjacent parallel relation, and mechanical expanding means arranged in the relatively narrow space between said Walls, elements of said expanding means telescoping substantially completely within portions of said expansible members when the latter are in co1- lapsed position.

19. A material-breaking device comprising a normallyy flat, hollow, material-breaking means adapted for insertion in a narrow slot in the material to be broken and including oppositely expansible members having Walls presenting relatively wide, `ilat material-engaging surfaces., mechanical expanding means arranged in the narrow space between said walls, and a member with which the expansible members overlap in all positions of the latter to form a complete housing for said expanding means.

20. A material-breaking mechanism compris- -ing a relatively iiat, hollow, expansible breaking device including oppositely directed relatively wide at pressure members of circular cup-shape providing inwardly directed annular ilanges, me-

chanical expanding mechanism interposed in the narrow space between said pressure members, and operating means for said expanding mechanism including a rotatable member interposed between said pressure members in coaxial relation therewith, and rotating means cooperating with said rotatable member for rotating the latter, said rotatable member surrounding the ianges of said cup-shaped members in any position of the latter with respect thereto.

21. A material-breaking mechanism comprising a relatively lat, hollow expansible breaking device including oppositely directed relatively wide, flat pressure members of circular cup shape providing inwardly directed annular flanges, mechanical expanding mechanism interposed in the narrow space between said pressure members, and operating means for said expanding mechanism including a rotatable operating member interposed between said pressure members in coaxial relation therewith and having oppositely directed annular flanges cooperating with the anges on said pressure members to provide a complete housing for said expanding mechanism in all positions of the latter.

22. An expansible breaker adapted to be inserted in a plane kerf in a mine wall, including a relatively narrow intermediate frame having a chamber in each side thereof, relatively shallow plungers telescopically tting said chambers in the sides of said intermediate frame and movable relative thereto transversely thereof, and means for spreading said plungers apart relative to said intermediate frame to exert pressure on the opposite walls of said plane kerf including a mechanical inclined plane mechanism cooperating with and operatively connected to said plungers and said intermediate frame. 

